Zimpapers Logo

Gibson Mhaka, Zimpapers Politics Hub

IN his book, The Unpopular Missionary, which strongly criticises missionaries, the late Bishop Ralph Edward Dodge, wrote: “This is not the time for the church to be concerned about its own future but the future of humanity. Its role is not to be served but to serve, not to be saved but to save!

The church may live by being ready to die in loving service.” Bishop Dodge was the United Methodist Church’s last white bishop in Zimbabwe and an outspoken advocate for justice during the country’s colonial era, who also stood up to the Smith regime.

Following the publication of his book, Bishop Dodge was labelled an enemy of the status quo in racist Southern Rhodesia. This resulted in him being declared “persona non grata” by the Smith regime. On July 17, 1964, Bishop Dodge and his colleague, Reverend Robert Hughes were deported. His deportation stunned the nation, especially the oppressed majority of African people.

This was a great loss to the American Methodist Church and all Africans in Rhodesia. As a church leader, Bishop Dodge voiced the concerns of the African people in Rhodesia at a time when political parties were banned and their leaders were silenced in detention.

In some of his sermons, he preached about “a total gospel for the total person,” which encompassed both political and spiritual freedom. He led the church in denouncing the proposed Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI). And criticised the Rhodesian government’s practice of detaining people without trial. He openly declared his full support for African social and political aspirations, setting him on a collision course with the ruling white minority.

His home in Salisbury, now Harare, was under police surveillance and his sermons and speeches were undoubtedly reported to the Criminal Investigation Department. Through his guidance, the American Methodist Church was now understood to be committed to the struggle of the black people oppressed in their land.

It became clear to many that the church needed to assume a prophetic voice and speak with one voice on behalf of the oppressed masses. Through his leadership, the American Methodist Church gained the status of a church of the people. To express gratitude to Bishop Dodge for standing with them during times of pain, the Zimbabwe Annual Conference invited him to participate in its centennial celebration on December 9-11, 1997.

This marked Bishop Dodge’s first return to Zimbabwe since his deportation in 1964. Sadly, he passed away on August 8, 2008. Bishop Dodge was not the only church leader who stood up to the Smith regime; there were many others. In 2021, Father Emmanuel Ribeiro, a Roman Catholic cleric, was declared a national hero. During the colonial era, he served in rural parishes and later provided spiritual guidance to imprisoned and condemned freedom fighters. Notably, he ministered to President Mnangagwa, who avoided execution due to his age.

President Mnangagwa joins hands in prayer with Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi, Patron of Zimbabwe Indigenous Churches (right), Edmore Chihota of the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe (second from left) Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri during the National Day of Prayer at State House yesterday. (Picture by Memory Mangombe)

Another influential missionary church leader was Bishop Donald Lamont of the Roman Catholic Church in Umtali, now Mutare. In 1965, when Ian Smith declared the UDI, Bishop Lamont was among those from the Salisbury Council of Churches who stated that the African people did not recognise the Smith regime as a legal authority in Rhodesia.

The actions of Bishops Dodge and Lamont, powerfully illustrate the crucial and often courageous role that churches and church leaders played in Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle and its journey to independence in 1980.

Their open opposition to the Smith regime, including the UDI and the practice of detention without trial, highlights the church’s willingness to challenge unjust authority. Furthermore, their actions also show that the church was a space where the concerns of the oppressed could be heard, and that they were willing to use their positions to amplify these concerns, demonstrating the church’s role as a voice for the voiceless.

In her work, The Church and Zimbabwe’s Liberation Struggle, which examines the major role played by Christianity during and after the Zimbabwean liberation struggle, Reverend Dr Beauty Maenzanise stated that one needs to keep in mind that many clergies helped to educate Africans in Rhodesia about their human rights and freedoms. Among them were Reverend Canaan Banana (British Methodist), Reverend Paul Burrough (Anglican) and Reverend Christopher Chikasha (African Reformed Church), to name a few.

They represent a group of church leaders who boldly spoke out against the Smith regime. The involvement of these people of God encouraged the struggling, oppressed and underprivileged people of Zimbabwe. The church was seen as an organisation addressing the real problems of the people. Members of the clergy were at the forefront, denouncing the evil system of racial discrimination and the oppressive laws of the Smith regime.

This active role in addressing societal issues highlights that, in essence, during the colonial era, the church played a significant role in public life, particularly in opposition to the white minority rule enforced by the Rhodesia Front Party (RFP). Beyond simply offering spiritual guidance, various denominations and individual church leaders actively challenged the deeply entrenched system of racial segregation and discrimination.

This legacy of active involvement has been acknowledged in post-independence Zimbabwe, as President Mnangagwa has on several occasions recognised the role of churches in Zimbabwe’s struggle for independence. He said that churches were a vital cog during the country’s protracted liberation struggle and post-independence. President Mnangagwa highlighted that the liberation of Zimbabwe was not solely a result of armed conflict, but was complemented by various peaceful liberation forces, including the activities and narratives of the church.

Specifically, the President stated that during the country’s protracted liberation struggle, churches along with other communities and traditional leaders across the country, became proverbial “water,” facilitating and assisting freedom fighters. From President Mnangagwa’s observations, it is clear that the struggle to liberate Zimbabwe from the colonial regime was carried out on different fronts; some people provided the means to fight, others went to the battlefield while the church felt obliged to engage in a prophetic vocation against the colonial system.

White Rhodesian colonial rulers

It is also important to note that as the country observes 45 years of its independence on April 18, a recollection of the story about the liberation struggle that brought the country’s independence in 1980 will not be complete without talking about the role of churches that were integral to the movement. In an interview, president of the Council of Churches in Africa (CCA), Bishop Dr Rocky Moyo, emphasised that churches played a multifaceted role in Zimbabwe’s struggle for independence.

“They actively spoke out against colonial injustices, advocating for African rights and freedoms. Notably, they provided shelter, food and other essential support to African nationalists engaged in the fight for independence. “Beyond direct support for the liberation struggle, churches also laid the groundwork for future development, which proved instrumental in the country’s eventual freedom. They offered refuge to those fleeing colonial persecution or violence, creating safe havens during tumultuous times.

“Furthermore, churches established schools, providing education to Africans and fostering literacy and skills development.
“This educational foundation was crucial, not only for individual empowerment but also for cultivating the intellectual capital necessary for a liberated nation,” said Dr Moyo. Furthermore, even after independence, Dr Moyo said the church continues to collaborate with the Government on various initiatives, including social development programs and efforts to promote peace and reconciliation.

“We now have freedom of worship. We maintain a very good relationship with the Government of Zimbabwe, and we are working closely with them in nation-building.

“From 1980 to the present, this relationship has grown significantly, and we are very pleased that there is freedom of worship for all, from traditional to mainline churches. Democracy is good,” he said. Pastor and Christian academic Reverend Anglistone Sibanda concurred, stating that churches played an important role in Zimbabwe’s struggle for independence by providing shelter and safe houses to those fighting the war.

“We read in history that the Church played a significant part in supporting the liberation struggle, which led to the formation of Christian Care, an organisation that mobilised resources for those affected by the war. Some churches provided shelter and safe houses for those fighting the war. ”

Although the biggest challenge the church faced was the manipulation by imperialists to further their agenda, notwithstanding the mutations and metamorphoses the Gospel underwent, true believers always emerged.

ZAOGA Forward in Faith founder Archbishop Ezekiel Guti addresses congregants at his centenary birthday celebrations in Harare on May 14, 2023. – Picture: Believe Nyakudjara

“We saw churches that continued preaching and teaching the true gospel during the war, and some of their leaders actively supported the liberation movement. Iconic servants of God, such as the late Reverend Morgan Sengwayo of the Apostolic Faith Mission of Africa, the late Reverend Geoffrey Mkhwananzi of the Assemblies of God and the late Archbishop Professor Ezekiel Guti, founder of Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa (Zaoga) Forward in Faith Ministries, among others in the Pentecostal-Charismatic movement, founded and led large congregations during the liberation war. “We are told that some of these leaders were even placed under scrutiny by the Ian Smith regime.

“The taking over of leadership by black men and women of God changed the narrative from the colonial legacy to a restoration of the original message of the Gospel,” said Rev Sibanda. He urged that in post-independence Zimbabwe, the contemporary church needs to engage in significant self-introspection and return to the core principles of the true gospel.

“The church must reclaim its prophetic role, providing guidance and shaping the nation-building agenda, while also strengthening the foundations of justice and peace within society. “Furthermore, it should actively condemn corruption, correct the excesses of political actors, and provide unwavering support to the vulnerable members of society,” said Rev Sibanda.